Hanging shelf with levelling means

ABSTRACT

A shelf has a platform suspended by at least three cords or other flexible suspension means. The upper ends of the cords are gathered in a knot formed with a loop for suspension from a hook. The lower ends of the cords are attached to the platform, two of these cords being attached at, or near, the opposite ends of the side of the platform which, in one use of the shelf, is located near a wall. A slide similar to a bead receives the latter two cords. When the shelf is suspended from a hook located remote from a wall the bead is slid up to the knot and, since the cords are of the same length, the platform is horizontal. If the point of suspension is on or close to a wall, the bead is slid downwards to reduce the straight-line distance between the points of attachment to the platform and the knot. the position of the bead is adjusted so that the platform is horizontal (or at some desired slope).

United States Patent [1 1 Schlesinger 1 HANGING SHELF WITH LEVELLINGMEANS [76] Inventor: Jill Schlesinger, 591 Vermont St.,

San Francisco, Calif. 94107 [22] Filed: May 1, 1974 [21] Appl. No.:465,911

[52] US. Cl. 108/149; 211/113; 248/328 [51] Int. Cl. A4713 5/00 [58]Field of Search 108/149; 248/328, 323,

[4 1 Aug. 26, 1975 Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier AssistantExaminer-Darrell Marquette Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Julian Caplan [57] YABSTRACT A shelf has a platform suspended by at least three cords orother flexible suspension means. The upper ends of the cords aregathered in a knot formed with a loop for suspension from a hook. Thelower ends of the cords are attached to the platform, two of these cordsbeing attached at, or near, the opposite ends of the side of theplatform which, in one use of the shelf, is located near a wall. A slidesimilar to a bead receives the latter two cords. When the shelf issuspended from a hook located remote from a wall the bead is slid up tothe knot and, since the cords are of the same length, the platform ishorizontal. If the point of suspension is on or close to a wall, thebead is slid downwards to reduce the straight-line distance between thepoints of attachment to the platform and the knot. the position of thebead is adjusted so that the platform is horizontal (or at some desiredslope).

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures HANGING SHELF WITH LEVELLING MEANS Thisinvention relates to a new and improved hanging shelf with levellingmeans so that the shelf may be suspended from the ceiling or a wall at ahorizontal level or at a desired slope.

A principal feature of the present invention is to provide a shelfhaving a levelling means incorporated in the suspension cord so that theshelf may be alternatively suspended either from the ceiling or from ahook in a wall and the position of the shelf adjusted, regardless of thedistance which the hook projects from the wall.

A feature of the invention is the fact that the levelling means insuresthat the platform of the shelf is horizontal when suspended from anypoint along an arc of any degree.

A feature of the invention is the fact that the user may hang the shelffrom a variety of different locations. Complete mobility is provided inthat the shelf may be relocated simply by removing it from one hook andhanging it from another.

Another advantage of the invention is the fact that an adjustable shelfis afforded which can be hung from a wall by only one hook, thusavoiding the use of brackets and nails or screws. Accordingly, littleskill, few tools, and a minimum of equipment is required to locate andlevel the shelf.

Another advantage of the invention is the fact that the shelf may beused as a unique display for plants, curios, art objects, etc. When hungagainst the wall, with the bead in lowered position, the configurationof the cords suspending the platform create an aesthetically pleasingdesign which enhances the display.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that instead of hanging theshelf horizontal, it may be tilted at any desired angle so that thearticles positioned thereon may be viewed.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawingsin which similar characters of reference represent corresponding partsin each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the device suspended from ahook on the ceiling.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the hook attached to a wall.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly broken away in section ofthe upper end of the suspension device.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified construction.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan, partly broken away, of thestructure of FIGS. 1-3.

Directing attention first to the form of invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, aplatform 11 which is preferably rectangular but may be of other shapesis provided. Adjacent each of the four comers is a hole 12. A cordconsisting of two flexible strands 13 fits through the front holes 12and then under the platform 1 1 in a stretch 13. Preferably, a knot 24is formed in one strand l3 and force-fit into a hole 12 to prevent thecord from sliding. Similarly, rear strands 16 pass through the rearholes 12 with a similar connecting stretch and knot 17. It will beunderstood that other means of attachment of the lower ends of the cordsl3, 16 may be used.

The upper ends of cords 13, 16 are connected together, preferably sothat the cords are of equal length. A preferred means is a knot 18having an upward projecting loop 19.

Slidable along the rear cords 16 is a bead 21 formed.

with a bore 22 through which the cords 16 pass. Preferably there is somefriction between the cords l6 and the bore 22, and the bead 21 remainsin a position of adjustment despite considerable weight being imposed onthe platform 11.

Directing attention to FIG. 1, a hook 26 is located in the ceiling at adistance from any wall. Loop 19 is suspended from hook 26. In this formof the invention, assuming that the platform 11 is to be horizontal, thebead 21 is raised to its uppermost position so that an effective lengthsof cords l3, 16 for practical purposes are the same. In FIG. 2, hook 27is located in a wall. In order to maintain the platform 11 horizontalwith the back edge 28 of platform 11 resting against the wall, bead 21is slid along the cords 16 to a lower position so that the effectivelength of cords 16 is reduced. It will be understood that the distancewhich hook 27 projects from the wall is subject to considerablevariation. This variation in distance may be accommodated by moving bead21 up and down on cords 16 until the shelf 11 is horizontal. It willfurther be understood that the shelf 11 may be tilted merely by thepositioning of bead 21.

Directing attention now to FIG. 4, the platform 11a is of any desiredshape other than rectangular but preferably has a straight back edge 31which fits against the wall. In the form of the invention shown in FIG.4, only a single front cord 13a is employed rather than two cords 13 ofFIG. 1. In other respects, the modification of FIG. 4 is similar to thatof the preceding modification and the same reference numerals followedby the subscript a are employed to designate corresponding elements. Thepositioning and adjustment of bead 21a in the modification of FIG. 4 issubstantially the same as in the preceding modification. Front cord 13ais attached to platform 11a but knot 14a is under hole 12a.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shelf combination, a platform, at least three cords, the lowerends of said cords attached to said platform at widely spaced-apartpositions on said platform to suspend said platform, means joiningtogether the upper ends of each of said cords and having a loop forattachment to a hook or other suspension, and a slider manually slidablealong only two of said cords between an upper location and a lowerlocation to adjust the effective lengths of said two said cords toadjust the angle of said platform to the horizontal when said shelf issuspended by said loop, said slider comprising a bead formed with abore, said two cords extending through said bore, the friction betweensaid two cords and said bore holding said bead in a position ofadjustment, said platform being formed with holes at said spacedpositions, the lower ends of said cords passing through said holes, andfastened below said platform, said attachment of said cords to saidplatform being independent of said slider.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the number of said cords is fourand said spaced positions are located at the corners of a rectangle.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which the number of said cords is threeand said spaced positions are located at the corners of anisosceles'triangle.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which said means joining together saidupper ends of said cords is a knot of said cords.

1. In a shelf combination, a platform, at least three cords, the lower ends of said cords attached to said platform at widely spaced-apart positions on said platform to suspend said platform, means joining together the upper ends of each of said cords and having a loop for attachment to a hook or other suspension, and a slider manually slidable along only two of said cords between an upper location and a lower location to adjust the effective lengths of said two said cords to adjust the angle of said platform to the horizontal when said shelf is suspended by said loop, said slider comprising a bead formed with a bore, said two cords extending through said bore, the friction between said two cords and said bore holding said bead in a position of adjustment, said platform being formed with holes at said spaced positions, the lower ends of said cords passing through said holes, and fastened below said platform, said attachment of said cords to said platform being independent of said slider.
 2. The combination of claim 1 in which the number of said cords is four and said spaced positions are located at the corners of a Rectangle.
 3. The combination of claim 1 in which the number of said cords is three and said spaced positions are located at the corners of an isosceles triangle.
 4. The combination of claim 1 in which said means joining together said upper ends of said cords is a knot of said cords. 